First Hawaiian Center, Corporate skyscraper in downtown Honolulu, United States
The First Hawaiian Center is a 30-story office tower at 999 Bishop Street in downtown Honolulu, completed in 1996 to designs by Kohn Pedersen Fox. Its two faces differ: the makai side toward the ocean has horizontally louvered windows, while the mauka side facing the mountains has vertically proportioned windows. A 24,000-square-foot plaza with waterways sits at its base.
This structure was completed in 1996 by the architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox and marked a shift in how Honolulu developed its downtown skyline. At the time of its completion, it became the second tallest building in the state and reflected new ambitions for the city's growth.
Art galleries within the building display works by artists who live and work in Hawaii through a partnership with the Honolulu Museum of Art. When you walk inside, you encounter local creative expressions alongside the everyday flow of office workers and visitors.
The building sits on Bishop Street in the heart of downtown and is easily accessible on foot from surrounding areas and transit stops. The public plaza at ground level is open to the public and offers a pleasant spot to rest, with seating and water features where you can sit and observe the downtown activity.
The tower's two faces differ by orientation: horizontally louvered windows on the makai side frame views of the sea and horizon, while vertically proportioned windows on the mauka side face the mountains. This split was the compromise reached after residents raised concerns about skyscrapers altering the Hawaiian landscape.
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